Page 124 - AIT1020_E-Paper

3
1 Fabrik • Factory
2
2 Villa • Villa
3 Dach • Attic
1
Schnitt • Section

Grundriss 3. Obergeschoss • Floor plan Level +3

Am Übergang zwischen Fabrik und Villa entstand das Foyer. • New foyer at the transition of factory and villa Grundriss 1. Obergeschoss • Floor plan Level +1 Grundriss 2. Obergeschoss • Floor plan Level +2

T he development of the existing factory complex on the southbank of the Maas in space into a diverse working environment. The connection between the different floor
Rotterdam started in 1891. Since then the factory has expanded through organic
levels is realized by inserting a large void in the core of the plan, where the two buil-
growth to keep up with the changes and demands of the ever renewing production dings meet. The visual connection is made possible like this. A large wooden staircase
processes. This results in a historical layered cityscape with cultural value for the city connects the different levels. The wall in between the attic and the villa has been
of Rotterdam. In 2017 Unilever demerged the margarine and spreads department which cleaned and large glass windows and doors are placed to provide access to the void.
continued as an independent company named Upfield. The buildings on the Nassau- Shared facilities and a meeting room are placed in the void to activate this special
kade site had to be reorganized and divided between the two companies. We worked space. The main landscape office is located on the top floor under the double pitched
on several projects and interventions in the existing factory complex to create a new roofs. A connecting zone is introduced in the center of the space where the furniture
logic and organization for the site. The aims were to optimize space use to provide pieces with meeting rooms, informal meeting rooms and shared facilities are placed.
room for offices, research facilities, logistics and production, as well as maintain the This zone divides the attic floor in several zones with unique spatial qualities.
historical and cultural valued cityscape. The ground floors of the site stay in use as fac-
tories for different products, logistics areas and warehouses. The upper floors were va- ... without affecting the historic character of the building.
cant or underused. In this project we investigated which building parts could be reused
for the new office programs. In this way, the entire process from research to production To provide daylight on the top a part of the roof has been replaced with glass offering
and distribution is organized locally, within the urban context of Rotterdam. The un- light inside the building and have a spectacular view over the river Maas for the em-
used space in attic and middle floors of the first building built on site (1891) and the ployees. The second roof is opened up by placing two large dormers on the backside.
three upper floors of the villa (1915) provided opportunities to relocate offices. The centre zone gets its light by carefully designed skylights. To optimise space use furt-
her, the walls of the furniture pieces are multifunctional as they have functions like te-
The result is a modern work environment ... lephone booths, lockers, reproduction spaces, product displays and space for technical
installations integrated inside them. The bold and robust details in the interior com-
These unused areas in the historical buildings are reconnected and transformed into plies with the scale of the furniture pieces and emphasizes the contrast between the
a comfortable and high-quality offices in different areas. All interventions represent the new interventions and the existing buildings. The applied wood and the numerous
companies ambition to work differently. Individual offices are reduced to the minimum plants represent Upfield's plant based philosophy. Sustainability has been a main issue
and different levels are interconnected in order to create the sense of community. The during the design process. Through intensive reuse, relocation of functions and trans-
attic was redesigned with Upfield's values in mind. The interiors are designed in close formation the building use has been optimized. By combining all offices on one site,
collaboration with the company’s representatives responsible for the visual identity lots of flexibility is created. The existing building shell has been fully insulated and new
and branding. The ambition was to create a creative and dynamic workspace by acti- window frames are placed. In addition to the energetic upgrade of the buildings’ shell,
vating the standard office program with a mix of formal and informal meeting spaces new sustainable installations are implemented. The excessive heat, a by-product of the
for agile working. Because of the special kind of work Upfield does, also kitchens and production process of the underlying factory, is reused to heat up the office space. And
tasting counters are part of the program. These kitchens, for testing new products, are by ensuring that more daylight enters the building, a qualitative working environment
integrated in the concept of working environment. To translate all these dynamics into is created and energy is saved at the same time. The various interventions in the exi-
a plan we challenged the standard office layout and designed the meeting rooms as sting, the intensive renovation of the buildings exteriors and the new interventions in
furniture pieces. These furniture pieces are placed in the open space to create zones of the interiors will extend the life of the buildings. A contemporary office environment
various sizes. This results in spaces for special functions and transforms the open has been created without losing the historical character of the existing building.

124 • AIT 10.2020